Jet2 and Ryanair are slashing a massive 1.2 million airline seats this winter, sparking concerns that travelers could face major disruptions. Both budget carriershave revealed they're scaling back on specific routes.

Back in September, Jet2 announced it would need to eliminate 200,000 seats, dropping from 5.8m to 5.6m, during the winter period due to "a less certain consumer environment" – this comes despite the viral success of its advertising campaign featuring Jess Glynn.

The seat reduction brings Jet2 down to 5.6 million fares for the coming winter season, though this will still represent a 9% increase compared to the previous year.

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READ MORE: Ryanair cancels 24 routes as it slashes capacity in latest seat cuts in major European country

Ryanair axed additional fares last week, having previously cut various Spanish routes. The airline revealed that its Germany capacity will shrink by 800,000 seats this winter, with 24 routes spanning nine expensive German airports including Berlin, Hamburg, and Memmingen being eliminated.

This means Ryanair's total capacity in Germany will drop beneath winter 2024 levels, reports the Mirror.

The airports facing impact from the 1.2 million airline seat reduction include Santiago, Tenerife North, Vitoria, Zaragoza, Asturias, Jerez, Vigo and 36 connections linking regional Spain with the Canary Islands.

France has also taken a hit. Ryanair has reduced capacity at every French airport in their network, with four airports practically being erased from their route map: Strasbourg, Bergerac, Paris-Vatry and Brive.

Meanwhile, others like Béziers have seen more than half their capacity disappear compared to last season. Given this situation, Alicia Hempsted, travel insurance specialist at MoneySuperMarket, is urging people to prioritize one crucial factor before the hectic holiday period - travel insurance.

"With fewer scheduled flights and limited seat availability, airlines will have much less flexibility to rebook passengers when there are delays or cancellations. As a result, more Brits may need to rely on their travel insurance to cover unexpected costs and disruptions," she said.

"Flight cancellations are also likely to push seat prices higher due to reduced availability. That's why having the right travel insurance in place is more important than ever - helping you avoid steep, last-minute expenses and giving you peace of mind from the moment you book."

Based on internal statistics from MoneySuperMarket, winter travel insurance purchases drop by 49%, with sales declining dramatically during colder months versus summer, with just 16.53% of total insurance purchases happening in winter months, compared to 32.38% in summer.

Alicia continued: "There are plenty of scenarios during the winter months that can increase the chances of needing to make a travel insurance claim.

"From weather-related cancellations and seasonal illnesses to overbooked accommodation during peak periods, the risks are higher than usual.

"That's why it's always best to secure the right travel insurance as soon as your holiday is confirmed. It gives you protection from the moment you book and helps avoid costly surprises later-so you can enjoy your winter break with confidence and peace of mind."